Hame-tug.



Patented Apr. 23, I908.

G. R. RAPSON.

H A M E T U 6.

(Application filed Jan. 12, 1900.)

(No Model.)

V o D mm a as o @D z a. 0,, 0 ,17 1 mm mm F WITNESSES.

.dttorneys.

UNITED Srarns CHARLIE R. RAPSON, OF BADAXE, MICHIGAN.

HAiVlE- -TUG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,457, dated April 23, 1901. Application filed January 12, 1900. Serial No. 1,184=. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLIE R. RAPsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bad" axe, in the county of Huron, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hame-Tugs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to hame-tugs; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out particularlyin the claim.

The object of the invention is to produce a jointed hame-tug of simple and inexpensive construction, in which the arrangement is such as to providefor a free movement of the hame-tug and a free movement between said tug and the hame to which it is attached.

This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved hame-tug attached to a hame and supported by the straps of a harness which appear in dotted line. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of my hame-tug. Fig. 3 is an edge view thereof. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the hook employed to connect the forward end of the tug to the staple of the hame. Fig. 5 is a sectional view through said hook closed. Fig. 6 is a slight modificationin elevation, showing attachment of the tug to a bolt-hame.

Referring to the characters of reference, 1 designates a hame of any suitable construction, provided with the usual staple 2 for attachment of the hame-tug.

My improved hame-tug is formed of two parts, preferably of metal, comprising a body part 3 and a forward part 4:, hinged to the body part at 5 by means of a knuckle-joint or other suitable hinge, wherein the projection of the joint or hinge stands upon the outer face, leaving the back face of the hametug smooth.

The body portion of the hame-tug is provided with a series of apertures 6 therein crossed by a metallic bar 7, which is adapted to be engaged by a hook 8, lying in said aperture and attached to the forward end of the trace 9. Said trace passes through a guard 10 upon the rear end of the body portion of the tug and is adapted to lie against the outer face of said tug,as shown. The apertures 6 in the tug in which the hook of the trace is adapted to engage provide for the longitudinal adjustment of the trace, as will be understood.

Projecting from the opposite edges of the bodyportion of the tug, at its rear end, are the brackets 11, Whose longitudinal portion is spaced from the body of the tug, forming an opening 12. Mounted upon the longitudinal portion of each of said brackets is a .rotary sleeve 13. The back-strap and belly-strap 14 and 15, respectively, are looped through the respective openings 12 and engage the rotary sleeves 13, whereby the wearupon the looped portion of said strap is greatly decreased.

The forward end of the forward section 4 of the hame-tug is provided with a slotted opening extending parallel to the width of said tug and in which the hook 16 is pivoted by means of a suitable bolt 17. This construction gives the hook 16 a movement upon its pivot at right angles to the movement of the hinge or joint 5.

To provide for securely uniting the hook 1 6 to the staple 2 of the hame, the inner face of the body of said hook is recessed, as shown at 18 in Fig. 4, said recess being of such depth as to receive the free end 19 of the hook when forced therein, so that the outer face of said parts stand flush when the hook is closed, as shown in Fig. 5. An aperture 20 is formed through the free end of the hook and through the body portion thereof, adapted to receive the'pivot-pin 17 to secure said hook to the end of the tug.

In attaching the tug to a hame the hook is first engaged in the staple of the hame, when the free end thereof is forced into the recess of the body portion and said body portion inserted in the slotted opening in the end of the tug, when the pivot-pin 17 is passed through the tug and the apertures in said hook to pivotally unite said parts. By withdrawing thepivot-pin the hook may be detached from the tug, when by prying upward the free end 19 of the hook it may be disengaged from the staple of the hame.

When attaching the tug to a bolt-hame, a coupling-eye 21 (shown in Fig. 6) is employed, which receives the hame-bolt and which is in turn pivoted at 17 in the end of the forward hame-section.

By means of the improved hame-tng herein shown and described all necessary vertical and lateral movement of the tug is provided for, enabling said tug to accommodate itself to the movement of the horse without chafing or binding and at the same time maintaining the tug properly in place.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim is- A metallic hame-tug having an open slot in the forward-end thereof, a hook compris- In testimony whereof I sign this specifica- 0 tion in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLIE R. RAPSON.

Witnesses:

F. J. PEDDIE, E. S. WHEELER. 

